Hypericum plant named ‘Bosaney’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant named ‘Bosaney’, characterized by its medium to late flowering; long stem length; medium-sized light orange red-colored berries; and excellent post-production longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHypericum plant, botanically known as Hypericum androsaemum,commercially used as a cut flower, and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Bosaney’. The new Hypericum does not have any medicinal value.

The new Hypericum is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop cut Hypericum varieties with largeberries, attractive berry color and long flowering stem length.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1988 oftwo proprietary selections. The female, or seed, parent was identifiedas code number 93 and the male, or pollen, parent was identified as codenumber 71. The cultivar Bosaney was discovered and selected by theInventor in 1994 as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Zimbabwe.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hypericum by terminal cuttings taken atRijnsburg, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Hypericum are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bosaney’. These charateristics incombination distinguish ‘Bosaney’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Medium to late flowering.

2. Long stem length.

3. Medium-sized light orange red-colored berries.

4. Excellent post-production longevity.

Compared to plants of the female parent, code number 93, which havelight pink-colored berries, plants of the new Hypericum produce largerberries. Compared to plants of the male parent, code number 71, whichhave salmon-colored berries, plants of the new Hypericum produce smallerberries.

Plants of the new Hypericum can be compared to plants of the Hypericumcultivar ‘Bosapin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,993. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Hypericum have shorter leaves, smaller berries and havelighter colored berries than plants of the cultivar ‘Bosapin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hypericum, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Hypericum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Bosaney’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical opened flower of ‘Bosaney’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical berries of ‘Bosaney’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Hypericum has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown inRijnsburg, The Netherlands, under outdoor commercial production practiceplanted in the field. Plants used for the description were about twoyears old. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.—Hypericum androsaemum cultivar ‘Bosaney’.

Commercial.—Cut flower Hypericum; no medicinal value.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Hypericum androsaemum codenumber 93, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Hypericum androsaemum code number71, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal cuttings.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Upright and broad woody shrub with erect lateral branches,branch angle about 45°.

Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Freely branching and dense growth.

Plant height.—About 70 cm.

Plant width (spread).—About 30 cm.

Stem length.—About 65 cm.

Stem and lateral branch color.—Young branches, light green, close to144B, with relatively weak hint of red brown-colored anthocyanin.

Foliage description.—Leaves opposite; single; sessile and generallysymmetrical. Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth; leathery. Aspect:About 80° to stem. Color: Upper surface: 137A. Lower surface: 137C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Bright yellow flowers arranged in terminalcompound umbels. Flowers not fragrant.

Time to flower.—Medium to late flowering; plants flower about 14 to 15weeks after planting.

Natural flowering season.—Early autumn, typically August and Septemberin The Netherlands.

Post-production longevity.—Cut flower are typically harvested when allflowers have developed berries. From flowers to berries takes aboutthree weeks. Post-production longevity of cut stems is about 16 days.

Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.

Petals.—Quantity: Typically five per flower. Length: About 1.2 cm.Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Broadly elliptic to almost round; concave.Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color, both surfaces: 13Ato 13B.

Sepals.—Quantity: Typically five per flower; three larger sepals and twosmaller sepals. Shape: Broadly elliptic with nearly rounded apex.Orientation: Inner angle of about 70° to peduncle. Color, both surfaces:Green, 137B, red purple tint at margin.

Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Length: About 1 cm. Aspect: Erect. Color:Light green, 143A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens. Stamen shape: Slightly fan-shaped. Stamencolor: Yellow, 14A. Anther color: Light yellow, 10C. Pistils: Quantity:Three per flower. Style color: Light yellow, 10C. Stigma color: Redpurple, 185B. Ovary color: Light yellow, 10D.

Fruit description.—Type: Capsule, pyxis. Shape: Ellipsoidal. Length:About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Light orange red, between 39Aand 41C, on a cream-colored, close to 11D, background, most noticeableat the base.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Hypericums has notbeen observed on plants grown under commercial conditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant named‘Bosaney’, as illustrated and described.